I Will Not Allow GMO Foods In Ghana― Prof Boateng

The Minister for Environment, science and Innovations, Prof. Frimpong Boateng has assured Ghanaians that all efforts to introduce Genetically Modified seeds into the country’s agricultural system would not see the light of day.

According to him, though GMOs allow plants to be modified to grow in environments that would be normally inhospitable, it has very grave health consequences.

Speaking to the press last Tuesday, the minister said, though people are calling for the introduction of terminator seeds in Ghana, it would never happen under his watch.

“These are seeds which we buy from big companies and when you plant your seeds, you get your produce but the seeds from what you harvested, cannot be replanted. So, they are forever dependent on those companies that produce those seeds,” he said.

Poisonous Tilapia?

Prof Frimpong Boateng also bemoaned the introduction of some strain of Tilapia unto the Ghanaian Market.

This Tilapia specie he says are being reared by some Asian farmers in Ghana and the mode of nurture seem to raise some health concerns.

“We are also looking at what is happening in the fish industry. Ghana allows the Akosombo strain of tilapia to be farmed in Ghana and there are some farmers from Asia who have introduced another strain, the strain in Ghana will mature between 6 months and a year but they have introduced a strain that can mature in 4 months and that is causing problems for us,” the minister revealed.

According to the minister, red flags have been raised and monitoring by the ministry of Aqua culture has begun so the situation can be contained.

“This strain is such that those farmers require the use of hydro anti biotics to fight infections that attack the fingerlings to the extent that some of the farmers lose about 80% of the fish…this is causing trouble for us,” he said.

Prof Boateng revealed that the waters get muddier as the antibiotics used in the Volta lake gets into the lake and enters into the general water supply system and through into the water purification system.

“We are not able to get rid of the antibiotics to the extent that a lot of people have antibiotics in them,” he indicated.

The Ministry of Health is working very hard to contain the antimicrobial resistance not only in humans but also in veterinary, the minister added.

By: Grace Ablewor Sogbey/thePublisher